Flooring-clamp.



'J. JONES. FLOORING CLAMP. v APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1910.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

v sition for use in laying a floor. Fig. 3 is a JOHN G. JONES, F MONTGOMERY CITY, MISSOURI.

FLOORING-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

Application filed January 12, 1910. Serial No. 537,770.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN G. JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montgomery City, in the county of Montgomery and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Flooring-Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to what may be termed a flooring clamp.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which can be readily used for forcing the planks of a floor into position to be nailed into place. The device of the present invention however can be used for other purposes.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flooring clamp constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view looking from a different point, and showing the flooring clamp in potransverse section through the arms of the clamp and the traveler block.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

The floor clamp of the present invention comprises a pair of parallel arms 1 and 2 which are connected with each other at one end by means of the cross piece 3, the arms 1 and 2 being secured to the cross piece 3 in any suitable manner or if preferred being formed integral therewith. The arm 1 at the free end thereof is laterally offset as in dieated at 4- and has extending therethrough a screw member 5 formed at its upper end with a handle 6 and at its lower end with an enlarged swiveled head 7. The arms 1 and 2 preferably are separated from each other by a distance equal to the thickness of a flooring plank, except at the off-set portion 4:, wherein the distance between the two arms is about twice the thickness of a flooring plank. I

Extending through the arms 2 at a point opposite the screw member 5 in the olf-set portion a of the arm 1, is a screw 8 having at its lower end a handle 9 and having its upper end pointed as indicated at 10.

Extending through the cross piece 3 and suitably threaded therein, is a screw rod 11 having a handle or ratchet crank 12 at its outer end. The rod 11 at its inner end'is swiveled or otherwise suitably connected with a follower or block 13 which is adapted to slide longitudinally between the arms 1 and 2, said block or follower 13 being formed with keys or ribs 15 which are adapted to slide in longitudinal grooves 16 formed in the inner faces of the arms 1 and 2.

The arm 1 is provided on the upper surface thereof with a suitable handle 17 having end ears or fastening lugs 18 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the arm 1 as indicated at 19.

In adjusting the improved device for use, the pointed screw 8 is screwed upwardly in the arm 2 so that the sharp end thereof projects above the upper surface of said arm. The screw No. 5 is retracted in the offset portion 4 of the arm so that the swiveled head 7 thereof'is separated from the point 10 of the screw 8 by a distance greater than the thickness of the plank of the floor. The device is then grasped by means of the handle 17 and, after one or two of the planks have been already laid is fitted over the edge of one of said planks as indicated in Fig. 2. By screwing down upon the screw 5 the point 10 of the screw 8 is forced upward into the lower portion of the plank. The screw rod 11 is then rotated to force the follower 13 against the loose plank 20 which is to be laid, thus forcing said plank securely into engagement with the plank 21 which has already been laid. The device can be guided or moved up and down whenever necessary by means of the handle 17.

It is found in practice that the device of the present invention is particularly useful in laying boards which are warped or otherwise irregular.

The device of the present invention is strong, simple, durable and inexpensive in construction as well as thoroughly efficient in use.

hat is claimed as new is 1. A flooring clamp comprising a pair of parallel arms separated from each other by a distance equal to the thickness of a floor plank so as to contact simultaneously with the upper and lower surfaces of the floor planks, means at the free ends of said arms for engaging a floor plank, a follower block adapted to travel longitudinally between said arms, and means for operating said f0llower block.

2. A flooring clamp comprising a pair of parallel arms, connected with each other at one end, the free end of one of said arms being laterally oif-set, floor engaging devices connected with said arms and a follower movable longitudinally between the said arms.

A flooring clamp comprising a pair of arms connected with each other at one end, one of said arms having at the other end thereof a screw member provided with a swiveled head, and the other of said arms having at the free end thereof opposite said first mentioned screw member, a pointed Screw member, one of said arms being laterally ofi'set at the free end thereof.

at. A flooring clamp comprising a pair of parallel arms separated from each other by a; distance equal to the thickness of a floor plank, a cross piece connecting said arms at one end, a screw rod extending through said cross piece, a follower having a swivel con nection with said screw rod and movable longitudinally between said arms, a sharp engaging member extending through the free-end of one of said arms, and a blunt engaging: member extending through the free end of the other said arms.

5.-A flooring clamp comprising a pair of parallel arms, one of said arms having an off-set portion at the free end thereof, a cross piece connecting said arms at one end thereof, a threaded rod extending through said cross piece, a follower block havinga swiveled connection with said threaded rod and movable longitudinally between said arms, a screw rod extending through the o fi set portion of one of said arms and having a swiveled head and a screw member extending through the free end of the other of said arms, said last mentioned screw member having a pointed end.

6. A flooring clamp comprising a pair of parallel arms each having a longitudinal groove in its inner face, the free end of one of said arms being laterally off-set, a screw member extending through said laterally off-set portion and having a swiveled head thereon, a cross piece connecting said arms with each other, a threaded rod extending through said cross piece, a follower block having a swiveled connection with said threaded rod, and having projections to engage the grooves in the inner faces of said arms and a pointed screw member extending through one of the said arms opposite the off-set portion on the other of said arms.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN G. JONES.

WVitnesses:

HORACE L. SABOURTN, S. P. HULTS. 

